Wednesday 24 September 2008

The Changing New Face of Politics: The Expert Vs the Charismatic Novice



As Labour was struggling to maintain its vision of fairness in Britain at the Labour Party Conference last Monday, Its rather “unpopular” PM Gordon Brown reached out to the crowds by refraining from being too “serious” and getting more up close and personal by engaging anecdotes about his childhood, his wife and children.



But the crack in the Labour Party from within was felt throughout the conference speeches. David Miliband (which is the charismatic clonned version of Tony Blair) and who was - according to some commentators - trying to acclaim Gordon Brown as Blair’s successor rather than challenging for the leadership himself because Labour is determined to close ranks and rout the Tories again. But the opposite interpretation is surely just as possible. Milliband and Co may have calculated that there’s no point in risking their prospects by trying to oust Brown now, when it seems likelier by the day that Cameron’s resurgent Tories will do the job for them at the next election, which explains Ruth Kelly’s stepping down from her cabinet job.



And While David Miliband is considered a novice by Labour themselves, a US foreign policy loyal servant by British people - he might really be Labour’s wild card –after all he’s young, charismatic and if we are acknowledging how the face of politics is changing, and how on the other side of the pond Obama is promoting the “young and charismatic” brand of politics - He is without a doubt their last hope, if Gordon failed to deliver that is – question is, are British people willing to accept yet another 4 or 5 years of Blairite Amercanized policy?! Remains to be decided!

Thursday 18 September 2008

Snap-a-Snooper in Edinburgh with Google Street View: Coming Later to Streets Near You!

As Google Street View is invading the UK, and more specifically Scotland, the Scotsman reports that the Google camera operatives have come under fire amid claims they are invading privacy by photographing everything in sight. But it seems those behind the Google Streetmap project are less than keen on being pictured themselves, apparently fearing reprisals from angry locals.

And for those who don’t know; Google Street View is a feature of Google Maps and Google Earth that provides 360° panoramic street-level views and allows users to view parts of selected cities and their surrounding metropolitan areas at ground level. Google Street View was first introduced in the United States on May 25, 2007, and only covered areas of the United States until July 2, 2008. As of today, images can be seen in five countries. Introductions have generally occurred every 1-3 months, with a group of cities marked by camera icons being added each time.
In some of the later introductions, other cities without such a marking have been added too.[source]

Apparently many people are deliberately taking snaps of the Google mobile-camera operatives, in a snap-a-snooper game.

These pictures of Google snoopers are courtesy of this man here.


These cameras have not been spotted in Glasgow yet, but they should be on their way real soon. How would you react in your own street? I would get my camera ready, and treat them to an-eye-for-an-eye response!

Wednesday 17 September 2008

Open Doors Festival Diary - Part Deux



Yesterday’s central-city events celebrated the art of conservation and preservation with regards to Scottish materials, traditional skills, their history and current status. The series of lectures which took place at St. Andrews in the square newly renovated building, tackled the conservation of Scottish traditional materials and skills by top Scottish conservation experts.

Tom Morton of ARC Architects spoke about Earth Buildings; how local materials and skills had been employed at their best to present a form of vernacular architecture that stood the test of time, and can still aspire in the realm of modern sustainable solutions. For more information, a fascinating study done by Tom Morton for the Scottish Executive can be found here.

Nicola Ashurst of Adriel Consultancy spoke about the conservation of terracotta, especially the conservation project of the Doulton Fountain; a five year project, that cost nearly 5 million pounds, and brought back to life this sculpture masterpiece, that has been beautifully restored and relocated to the front of the People's Palace.
The Doulton Fountain was gifted to the city by Sir Henry Doulton, and first unveiled at the Empire Exhibition held at Kelvingrove Park in 1888. The fountain was then moved to Glasgow Green in 1890.
A sculptural extravaganza, the fountain was designed to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee of 1887, and celebrate Britain’s Imperial achievements - the fountain is crowded with figurative groups representing Australia, Canada, India and South Africa.


Hentie Louw from The University of Newcastle talked about Sash-Windows; an interesting take on the history and development of the Sash-window and its use in the Britain from late-medieval period to the mid 20th century.

Tuesday 16 September 2008

Glasgow Celebrates its Built Heritage in Doors Open Day Festival



This fantastic event is Glasgow's way of celebrating its buildings, its streets, its parks and its people.

From Monday, September 15th to Friday 19th the festival hosts walks, talks, seminars, and exhibitions. Then, on the weekend from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon more than 135 extraordinary buildings to visit are opened for free for the public to go visit and snoop around.

Some of the seminars provided include some by top directors of important Scottish trusts. Last night Liz Davison, project director of the Merchant City Heritage Initiative, discussed at a seminar evening held at the Glasgow City Heritage Trust, the background and aims of the three year grants project. She also looked at its achievements and progress to date, and what challenges the future holds.

The project is grants-based operated by the Townscape Heritage Initiative, partly funded by Lottery Fund, and partly by the City of Glasgow Council as well as the Scottish Enterprise. It is based on providing grants for small private owners of important heritage buildings in the heart of the city. The work done by the trust is basically regenerating what is most likely to be adding noise to the aesthetic cohesion in the city; this includes shop fronts, façades, signs, paving, and giving more attention to historical architectural details. By preserving the already existing built heritage of some of the most important buildings in the city – some of which are A-listed even in the realm of the UK- the initiative is hoping to restore a sense of place and character, to sometimes forgotten, sometimes abandoned or in dire conditions Scottish heritage symbols.





Also last night Stephen Mullen from the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust presented a fasciating lecture which examined Glasgow's mercantile past from 1660 onwards, with links to tobacco,salvery, and the abolition movemnet and the city's urban environment.

The event is surely not to be missed – especially if you’re nosy enough, and wanting to know where all the Scottish millions are going?!!:D Be sure to visit the event website for more information. See you there!

Saturday 13 September 2008

Tough Economy Times, Farewells to Budget Holidays, and Free Parking in Hospitals...Hurray!

There seems to be non tougher times than this for economy conscious Scots; with the soaring oil prices every thing seems to swing in the wrong direction. As waves of economical wallops rock the boat, political shackles struggle in keeping the balance!

As some of Scottish Airline and travel companies went bust in the past few months - thanks to the record oil prices - 30 more are expected to go bankrupt this year alone.

By having a risky attempt at keeping the balance, and helplessly trying to calm the nerves on the verge of insanely tough economical times; the government decides on scrapping the parking charges at all NHS hospitals in Scotland, how convenient is that! Scrapping the charges though, will cost health boards a whooping £5.5m a year in lost income, how is this going to be compensated for, only God and SNPs will know. Meanwhile, the National Trust for Scotland is suffering a financial near-crisis as the chief executive of the trust is SACKED, in the middle of massive staff redundancies and a deficit of £1.7m.

It seems that the ever-optimistic SNPs and pro-independence Scots will have to keep busy in the coming years; I suggest employing zillion economy experts (for a start), or introducing compulsory economy courses for pupils from primary 1 (hint), or even making the most of their relations with Europe (i.e. sending birthday and christams cards)- all the best of luck!

Tuesday 9 September 2008

Will English and Scottish People Ever Drop the Bigotry and Learn to Love Andy Murray?

Look at this face :)
Alas, Andy Murray (21) was defeated by the Swiss Roger Federer (27) last night at the US Open tennis tournament finale that took place in New York, only a day after defeating world number one Rafael Nadal, and surprising millions of people who watched his game. Surely, by getting this far Andy Murray has acquired himself a place on the world’s top four table, alongside Nadal, Federer and Djokovic.

TimesOnline had an interesting article yesterday that urged Britain to love Murray - more specifically for the English to drop their bigotry (incase they had any) against the young Scot, and to start loving him as a Briton and a UK champion.

While the crowds and fans across the pond were cheering Andy Murray’s historical victory – only after four years of lifting the junior cup of the US Open - not the same has been happening here in the UK though, more specifically; in Scotland.

Was it Scotland’s football defeat by Macedonia that had cast its shadows on the Scot’s tennis victory in America? I doubt it. Or was it Celtic fans heartbreak at their team’s defeat by their all time nemesis Rangers on the first old firm game of the season? Apparently, nothing can justify the apathy that Andy Murray’s accomplishments are met with here in Britain, and again more specifically in Scotland - his home country.

The seemingly never-ending feverish obsession with football, and especially football bigotry, is the one and only catalyst for stirring up the Scottish crowds. All other sports seem to matter less or not matter at all, even if it did concern a Scottish champion, who may one day lift up a cup for Scotland not Britain - an SNP’s potential mantra ;)

Sunday 7 September 2008

The Poles are Coming!

Poland has won the 2008 Eurovision dance contest last night - the second dance contest which took place at the SECC in Glasgow - as millions of viewers from 21 countries across Europe tuned to watch the 14 couples dance and compete to win. The Polish dancers Marcin Mroczek and Edyta Herbus were the couple that held the trophy, while Russia and Ukraine finished 2nd and 3rd respectively.




Prior to 2004, Poland was just a country in Eastern Europe (at least for most Scottish and British people, but not anymore)
So, what do the numbers say?
Scotland is currently enjoying a Polish revolution. Since 1 May 2004 when Poland officially joined the European Union and their citizens became eligible to work in Britain, the Polish population in Scotland has swollen by an estimated 10-12,000 to roughly 30,000.
[source]

Polish population in Scotland (30,000) and thats almost 0.60 % of the total population, estimated at(5,116,900) and that's very close to the number of Pakistani population in Scotland (40,000)which makes up nearly 0.65 % of the population.[source]

According to the news and reports, Polish cafes and restaurants are the newest trend in Scotland. Does this entail that some of the popular Polish dishes will soon be top favourites on Scottish dinner menus, alongside Curries and Pakoras? –only time will tell.

On another note, although it was Poland that won the Euro Dance Contest, the Russian couple totally caught my eye! They sort of transform you into a Russian winter-y night of Nabokov, Tolstoy, art, passion, drama, etc.. Love Russian culture!

Friday 5 September 2008

A Wee Glaswegian Tale

Some call him a “ned”, but he’s not offended. Some in his street call him a “muppet”, but his real name is Stephen; his girlfriend’s name is Gemma, he’s got a wee boy with Gemma, but he thinks that its not his, and so does Gemma, although wee Ryan still calls him daddy.

Stephen lives with his Gran Anne, she still watches him although he’s 18. His mum can’t be bothered with him any more. He’s never seen his dad since that night on the 23rd when his parents fell oot, and his dad left the house, hauf steamin!

Anne, who is 65 next month, is good to Stephen, he thinks she understaundes him better than anyone. He gets her a packet of 20 fags always; so she’s pleased.

As long as Stephen is not oot with Jamie and his pals, she thinks he’s alright, but once he’s oot with them, she knows he’ll get himself into trouble, that’s why the polis will be battering her door at 2 a.m. She’s not asleep Anne though; she’s still up watching “The Steamie”, for the 2nd time that night, with her warm house-coat on!

“Sorry to bother you at this time”, the officer would say, and he notices that she’s been greeting! Must be from watching “The Steamie”!! Poor soul!

At last he’s there Stephen; 6 o’clock in the morning!!

“That’s it!” Anne says, “I’m phoning your uncle John on the morrow, you’re to go and have that wee job he told you aboot, I am not having any of this anymore Stephen!”

“For god’s sake, Anne, you’re killing your self, put down that fag will ye?” her pal Trisha would say, but Anne is too worried aboot Stephen, she doesnnae give a hook aboot what Trisha hinks!

“Aye, John, he’ll be there at 9, don’t worry aboot it, right, Cheerio!” and she hangs-up.

She’s going up’stairs to Stephen’s room, with a cup’o’tea in one hand and a crispy roll in the other. She staunds there by the door, with a strange grudge in her stomach! Stephen is not in his bed, he must have spent the night ootside the house!

She hears the bell ring, it’s almost 10 past. She takes her steps doon the stairs to get the door, it’s the officer, the same one from the other night!

She drops the tea cup, the roll. Her heart sinks, then she collapses onto the hall’s floor!

It will be in the EveningTimes that day, an 18 year old stabbed 11 times in the local park. A few people will talk aboot it, and then 2 weeks will pass, and his memory will cease to exist, but not for Anne. She still takes a cup of tea, and a crispy roll to his bed every morning till this day.

Tuesday 2 September 2008

Scottish Built Heritage: Who Has The Last Say?

While the Scots are struggling hard in attempting to rescue their political freedom from its virtual reality, or in trying to have the last say on their political destiny - it seems that they still to claim many of decision making and control privileges as well. It looks like the course of true freedom will never run smooth for Scotland.

Sadly, major developmental schemes in Edinburgh were called to a halt last week as Koïchiro Matsuura (Director-General of Unesco) called for an investigation into the city’s world heritage status to be carried out.[source]

According to Unesco, the major schemes in the city; such as the £300 million Caltongate project masterplanned by Allan Murray and the £200 million Haymarket project by Richard Murphy, could damage Edinburgh’s skyline. Unesco claims that Edinburgh should be placed on its “at risk” list of “endangered sites”.

Apparently, the Scottish architects are enraged – and who can blame them! Imagine someone coming to interfere with the way you decorate your own living room!
If Scottish architects and designers are not to trust with the decisions they take in transforming the urban environment they inhabit, how can some decision makers behind their desks in Unesco - who probably never been to Edinburgh before - be trusted?!

Caltongate development - Allan Murray’s masterplan


Haymarket tower - Richard Murphy’s 17-storey hotel

The fact that Edinburgh was made a World Heritage Site by the organisation in 1995, allows its inspectors to investigate and may consequently issue a critical report, which means that the city could lose its status.
The real sad part in all this controversy is not the fact that these schemes might affect the historic skyline of Edinburgh, or the risk of it loosing its heritage status; or the credibility of Scottish architects per se, but the big lobbying campaigns that start behind doors for the mere purpose of pocketing more money by labour or the nationalists or others!